When it comes to betting preseason football, there’s nothing more important than having knowledge of the quarterback. But unlike the regular season, the most important position in the preseason is the backup quarterbacks. Second-string quarterbacks will get most of the action in the first half of these games, while the second half will see mostly third- and fourth-stringers.
Since there is only so much time in the day, let’s take a brief look at all 32 NFL backup quarterbacks.
Arizona: Gardner Minshew. He’s a steady veteran who has been through it all. Gets the ball out quickly. Has 47 career starts.
Atlanta Falcons: Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. Looks like Tagovailoa will be the starter, as Penix is coming back from a knee injury. Tagovailoa could see some brief time this preseason. The Falcons just signed veteran Cooper Rush, who should see a lot of time this preseason. He played well at Dallas two seasons ago but struggled in Baltimore.
Baltimore: Tyler Huntley. “Snoop” fits the Baltimore offense well last season and in the past, but they have a new coordinator in Declan Doyle. Solid intermediate passer. Good athlete who can run, but not like Lamar Jackson.
Buffalo: Kyle Allen. Allen has played eight seasons and started 12 games for the Panthers in 2019. Hasn’t done much since. Does have a big arm and some mobility. Isn’t a great option if Josh Allen goes down.
Carolina: Kenny Pickett. Pickett has 27 career starts and will get the nod on Thursday against Arizona. Doesn’t have a lot of upside, except for playing for four previous teams.
Chicago Bears: Tyson Bagent. He was undrafted in 2023, but he might be one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL. He went 2-2 as a rookie, but has three TDs and six INTs in 2023 when Justin Fields was injured.
Cincinnati: Joe Flacco. Flacco is a Super Bowl-winning quarterback who still has the big arm and poise. His lack of mobility is a concern if he has to play long-term. It will be interesting to see how much he pays in the preseason considering his age of 41.
Cleveland Browns: Shedeur Sanders. Who knows what this situation will be in the regular season? Sanders should improve under new coach Todd Monken after showing flashes as a rookie. But why did Kevin Stefanski have him as the third string behind Dillon Gabriel? Monken likely could play all three quarterbacks this summer, including Deshaun Watson, who hasn’t played in nearly two years.
Dallas Cowboys: Joe Milton III. Milton has a lot of tools, but he has struggled with accuracy in three preseason starts. Great arm with good size.
Denver Broncos: Jarrett Stidham. Struggled in the AFC title game, but came back to the Broncos because he has Sean Payton’s trust. He also knows his offensive concepts but has limited arm talent.
Detroit: Teddy Bridgewater. Very experienced and accurate quarterback. Former high school coach who is like a coach on the field.
Green Bay: Tyrod Taylor. A gutsy journeyman who started for three seasons with Buffalo from 2015-17 and never threw more than six picks. Also, can still run the football.
Houston: Davis Mills: Solid backup with starting experience. He did win three games last season when C.J. Stroud was out with a concussion. He’s a game-manager, which is what a defensive team like Houston needs if Stroud goes down again.
Indianapolis: Anthony Richardson Sr. Has the size (6-4, 244) and arm talent with great athletic ability. Has 15 career starts, and he might be playing for the Colts’ career. Not the most accurate QB, but some team will take a chance if Indy wants a steadier backup to Daniel Jones.
Jacksonville: Nick Mullens. It’s tough to get on the field when you are playing behind the durable Trevor Lawrence. Is a rhythm passer who can move the ball downfield. Limited athleticism. Can be turnover-prone at times.
Kansas City: Justin Fields. Nice pick up by the Chiefs in the offseason. Fields is one of the best running QBs in the league and has improved his passing. Playing for Andy Reid might be the best move he made in his career, though he won’t play in the regular season behind Patrick Mahomes.
LA Chargers: Trey Lance. Lance has not lived up to his potential, but he might be playing for Jim Harbaugh. In four seasons, Lance has six career starts with five TDs and five INTs.
LA Rams: Ty Simpson. The rookie from Alabama is expected to take over for Matthew Stafford whenever he retires. Will get tested in preseason.
Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza. The top pick in the draft will be given the keys at some point this season. In the preseason, he should get enough time to show his skills, and he does need the experience. Has all the tools.
Miami Dolphins: Quinn Ewers. He’s in a tough situation with their limited talent. Can make all the throws, but consistency has been a problem along with accuracy.
Minnesota: J.J. McCarthy. Assuming Kyler Murray is the starter, McCarthy could be one of the top backups in the game. Has first-round talent with good arm and mobility. But accuracy (57.6%) was subpar in 10 games as a starter last season.
NY Giants: Jameis Winston. Might be the best backup in the NFL with a big arm and solid running ability. In 2019, led the league in passing yards and interceptions.
NY Jets: Cade Klubnik. Athletic qb who can move. He can throw accurately on the move. He’s fighting with Bailey Zappe for the No. 2 job behind Geno Smith. The fourth-round pick from Clemson played 49 games during his four years there and should get plenty of time in preseason.
New England Patriots: Tommy DeVito. DeVito rose to prominence with the Giants in 2023 when he went 3-3 as a starter (8TDs/3 INTs). Is streaky as a passer and is better when teams can use his mobility to make plays outside the pocket.
New Orleans Saints: Spencer Rattler. Tyler Shough will start and that means Rattler, who lost 12 of his 13 career starts, will be the backup. Perhaps he elevates his game with less pressure, and the experience will help him produce well in the preseason.
Philadelphia Eagles: Andy Dalton. Dalton will be 39 this season, but understands his job. Has 169 career starts, but is a savvy veteran who knows his role behind Jalen Hurts.
Pittsburgh: Mason Rudolph. He has played for the Steelers for seven years, so he knows his way around the locker room. Has a 9-9-1 record in 19 career starts. But with rookie Drew Allar and second-year QB Will Howard, this could be a very interesting preseason for the Steelers with solid competition.
San Francisco 49ers: Mac Jones. Wasn’t a great starter, but with San Francisco, he’s in a solid situation with some solid weapons. He went 5-3 filling in for injured Brock Purdy last season. One of the best backups in the league.
Seattle: Drew Lock. The Super Bowl champs return Drew Lock, who struggled in five starts for the Giants in 2023. He has made 28 career starts, so he’s pretty much what you want in a backup behind Sam Darnold. Has a big arm and solid mobility. Good physical tools, but hasn’t translated into solid production.
Tampa Bay: Jake Browning. Doesn’t have great intangibles, including average arm strength at best. Struggled filling in for Joe Burrow last season. But does have starting experience.
Tennessee: Mitch Trubisky. Yes, he’s still in the league. Good athlete and experienced starter. Has 57 career starts and was a former No. 2 pick in 2017. He’s no threat to Cam Ward and should be able to help him get to the next level, because he never got there.
Washington: Marcus Mariota. The former No. 2 pick has 82 career starts and is 36-46. Still an excellent runner, though his speed isn’t what it once was, but has never been a good starter and was always limited as a pure passer.
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